Self-operating camera-shutter.



1. H'. DOLBY.

SELF OPERATING CAMERA SHUTTER.. 'APPLICATION FILED 056.11.1916.

1,249,351. patented Dwi-11,1917.

4 Mam-W' g To @ZZV/whom #may concern NUNITED STATES PATENT oiiiiron. i.

' JESSE H. DOLBY, or iiLeINjrLLINioIS.

' SELF-OPERATING CAMERA-SHT.]"1v"]IILR.`

s'peication'of Letters Patent. Paentd Dec, 11', 1917-,

Application filed December 11, 1916. Serial No. 136,300. l

Be it knovvn that` I, Jnssii` H, DOLBY, a subject of the King of Great Britain, .residing at Elgin, in the county ofrKane and State of' Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Cperatiug Cainera-Shutters, of ivliich thefolloiving is a speciication.` o i My invention in the 4present instance pertains to improvements in photographic cameras, and particularly to ,their shutter mechanism. Specifically, my improvements relate to the shutter operating features disclosed in Letters Patent No. 1,084,137, for a camera shutter, issued `to me January 13, 1914. In my priorpatent'I have described means for setting and operating a camera shutter which were combined with or formed v a part of the camera. In this application I am endeavoring to cover 4a shutter, land automatic means foi' operating same, which constitute a iniitary device or attachment capable of being operatively connected with any type of camera of commerce,` by the owner ofthe camera,\vithout rtools or mechanical skill, and which may be readily removed from the camera When its use is` not required. j t, 4 j 4One of the objects of myimprovementsis to provide a combined shutter andgravity motor, which may be instantly attached to and removed from cameras ofeither the box type or the folding or telescoping style.

Another object of myT inventionlis to provide an attachable and detachable self-operating auxiliary shutter vvhichcan `be regulated as to speed by simple adjustments, and which can be controlled as to the time at which the shutter Will startito operate.

A further object of my invention ,is to provide a shutter-operating motorV of simple and economical construction'ivhich Will be fool-proof and Weather-proof, and remain unaffected by atmospheric changes.

In carrying out the foregoing special objects and others of general utility, such` as convenience of use, durability, and cheapness in price, I have provided an 4,automatic shutter which is practically integral With or part of its operating motor, and which, with a cylindrical casing and speed attachments,

comprises the complete device, which Will be hereinafter described in detail.

In the accompanying drawing, I have sh'o'vvn a preferred .embodiment of my invention inthe following views :v-4

Figure 1 is l a frontelevation proved shutter attachment.l

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal line 2 2, Fig; 1. y i j n F igx` is a sectional and partially` diagrammatic View vof the attachment With the front of i vimsectioii 4vtaken on plate removed to Vdisclose the relativelocaftion of the parts when the shutter is in vset position.

Fig. 4 isa vieiv .similar to Fig, 3, showing the relativev location of the parts immediately after the shutter has been operated. V j

Referring to the detailsA of the drawings, A represents'a cylindrical cap of thin metal proportioned to embrace the lens barrel of a camera, 'From opposite edges'of'lthe upper segment of thev casingextend small perfoj rated lugs, 5, in vvhicligare journaled the ends of a suitable horizontally' disposed shaft, 7. Secured to the forwardly extended end of this shaft is the shutterfand shuttermotor, which preferably vconsist ofan hourglass ,shaped casing, S, and a plate, Sb, which is of dumb-bell shape,`:th e lobespof ivhicli extend laterally beyond the sides, 8a, of the casing and constitute the shutter-inember proper and alsoformthe inner Wall or back of casing,`8, also serving as covers for the outer open end of cap A. One of the pear-shapeddivisions of the outer Wall of the motor-casing, 8, is provided With a, panel', 8e, indicated thereon by paint or otherwise, in order to differentiate it from the corresponding opposite section, While along one edge of the latter section is placed anarroiv, 8d. These `tivo sections of the motor casing are joined by means `of a narroiv neck, the

oppositeuivalls of which are' slightly expanded as atS", to'provide recesses into Which a small transverse diaphragm or plate, 9, is seated to divide the casing into two-chambers .that communicate With -each other i,

lugs, 14a, projecting laterally from the edge of the motor casing, which screw passes through the weight so that the turning of the latter will cause the weight to travel along the same, thus increasing or diminishing the distance of the Weight from the aXis of the motor casing, so as to modify the speed at which said motor will actuate the shutter. It is obvious, however, that other means for adjusting the weight may be employed which it is not necessary to illustrate or describe in detail herein.

At the diametrically opposite ends of the motor casingare lugs, 8f, which are adapted to engage an L-shaped stop, 8g, fixed on the periphery of cap A, the engagement being frictional and adapted to prevent the shutter rebounding from the impetus gained by gravity acting on the over-balanced motor. I prefer to place in the motor chambers, sand or other similar iine granular material of suitable specific gravity so as not to preponderate the weight, 12.

In using my attachment, when the operator desires to be included in the scene or Y group to be photographed, he will place the cap, A, on the forward end of the lens barrel so that the arrow, 8d, will stand vertically, as indicated in Fig. l of the drawings, in which position the sand will flow down through the orifice, 9a, into the lower or panel chamber. Upon the emptying of the upper or arrow chamber, the operator will thenr tuin the attachment upon its aXis to the reverse position (Fig. l) in which posiy tion the arrow chamber will cover the adjacent or outer opening of the cap,'A, and incidentally close the lens barrel of the camera. rlhe center of gravity of the chamber then filled with sand will be upon the right-hand side (looking into the lens) `of the vertical plane of the shaft, 7,' upon which the device rotates, and the empty chamber will lie below and to the left-hand side of the vertical plane of said shaft. The sand gravitating into the empty lower chami ber, 8, on the left of the vertical plane of the Copies of this patent may b e obtained for I/Vhat I claim as new and desire to secure by .Letters Patent is l. A device adapted to be readily attached to and detached from a photographic camera, and comprising attaching means having a lens exposing opening therein and a combined shutter and gravity operating motor mounted on said attaching means.

2. A device adapted to be readily attached to and detached from the lens hood of a photographic camera, and comprising means adapted to engage said lens hood and having a lens exposing opening therein, and a combined shutter and gavity operating motor mounted on said hood engaging means.

3. A device adapted to be readily attached to and detached from the lens hood of a photographic camera, and comprising means adapted to engage said lens hood, a combined shutter and gravity acting motor on lsaid hood engaging means, and means for regulating the speed vat which said shutter motor operates.

4. 'An attachment for photographic cameras consisting of a rotatable shutter, a motor forming a part of said shutter and adapted to automatically shift the center of gravity of said shutter.

5. An attachment for photographic cameras consisting of a rotatable shutter, a motor on said shutter adapted to shift the center of gravity of said shutter and adjustable means for controlling the speedy at which said shutter rotates.

6. An attachment for photographic cameras, consisting of a rotatable shutter, a motor on said shutter adapted to automatically shift the center of gravity of said shutter, and means for controlling the speed at which said shutter rotates, said means adapted to take effect only after the shutter has reached a certain position in its travel.

7. An attachment for cameras, consisting of a detachable collar having a lens exposing opening therein, a shutter rotatably mounted on said collar, a gravity acting motor forming a part Vof said shutter, means for regulating the speed at which said shutter is moved by said motor, and means for indicating the correct operative position of said motor.

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, this 4th day of December, 1916.

JESSE H. DOLBY.

Witnesses:

E. K. LUNDY, J r., H. SLACK.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

